Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers: Reds 'Are Missing Energy and Quality' of Joe Allen

Brendan Rodgers admits Liverpool are missing the "energy and quality" of Joe Allen in the midfield.

The Reds have struggled this season as they have already lost four matches in all competitions, which include a 1-0 away defeat to Basel in the Champions League.

The Merseyside club are without their key players as Daniel Sturridge, Glen Johnson, Jon Flanagan and Allen are recovering from injury.

The former Swansea midfielder picked up a knee injury during the international break in September. The Northern Irishman confirmed that Allen is still out of action for a few weeks, while also stating that the England international duo of Sturridge and Johnson will return to training next week.

Liverpool face Queens Park Rangers after the international break and Rodgers is hopeful Allen could return for the Premier League clash against the Hoops.

"Joe is a player who never gets mentioned but he's a player who rarely turns over the ball," Rodgers said, as quoted in the Liverpool Echo.

"He loves the football and gets other people playing. The key feature for Joe on top of that is the intensity in his pressure. He presses the game very well. He's a very intelligent footballer."

"Tactically, he's outstanding in the game and we've really missed his energy and his quality since he's been out. He will be back after the international break. Hopefully he'll be available for the QPR game," the Reds manager concluded.

Liverpool will face West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League fixture on Saturday. The Baggies manager Alan Irvine confirmed club record signing Brown Ideye is likely to be fit enough to face the Reds at Anfield and has ruled out any injury concerns.

"Brown didn't train yesterday but he is making progress, he is improving," Irvine told West Brom's official website.

"I am hoping he has a shout [sic] for Liverpool. He has rocked his ankle, it isn't too bad. These things come down to your pain tolerance levels. There are some players you can strap up and will be okay, there are some who take a little bit longer."

"Nobody can see how much pain he's feeling and I am certainly not playing down what he has got in the way of injury - but it isn't something serious."

"He hasn't badly damaged his ligaments, he hasn't broken his ankle, there's nothing major going on there. He has rocked his ankle - as he scored the goal their defender landed on his standing foot," he stressed.